Essay/Term paper: The fate of patroclus

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Essays

The Fate Of Patroclus


Throughout The Iliad Of Homer, the constant theme of death is inherently
apparent. Each main character, either by a spear or merely a scratch from an
arrow, was wounded or killed during the progression of the story. For Zeus' son,
Sarpedon, it was a spear through the heart, and for Hector, it was the bronze of
the mighty Achilles through his neck which caused his early demise. It seems
that no one could escape an agonizing fate. Of these deaths, the most
interesting and intriguing death of all is that of Achilles' dear friend
Patroclus. Although his life was taken by the mighty Hector's spear, who was
truly liable for his death? Could it have been Zeus or Hector or the mighty
Achilles to blame for this horrible death? The intricate story line of The
Iliad makes many possible answers available, but only one possibility
accurately explains the actions and events that led to this gruesome episode.
The only person to blame for the death of mighty Patrocles was himself.
First of all, Patrocles was responsible for his own death because he
requested his insertion into the battle, fully knowing that the Achaeans were
being unmercifully defeated. In Book XVI , Patroclus said,

" Send me forth now at the head of the Myrmidon host
That I may be a light of hope to the Danaans.
And let me strap on my shoulders that armor of yours
That the zealous Trojans take me for you and quickly
Withdraw from the fighting."

Because Achilles refused to help the Achaeans battle the Trojans, a
discontented Patroclus took the matter into his own hands by requesting
activation into battle disguised as Achilles in the hope of sending the Trojans
into a full retreat from the sight of him. It is apparent that Patroclus was
willing to fight although the odds were greatly against him. His vehemence
towards the Trojans coupled with his disappointment of Achilles gave him the
drive to conquer the Trojan army with or without the aid of Achilles. In doing
so, Patroclus took an enormous risk that the Trojans would fall for his trick, a
risk with his life as the stakes. Essentially, while pleading to Achilles for
battle, it was his own dark death for which he plead.
Next, because Patroclus ignored Achilles' warnings before battle, the
blame for his death can only be placed upon himself. In Book XVI, Achilles said,


" Do not, I tell you, get carried away
In the heat of conflict and slaughter and so lead the
men
Toward the city. For one of the gods everlasting may
decide
To descend from Olympus and fight against you - Apollo,
For instance, who works from afar and dearly loves
All Trojans. Come back, then, when once you have saved
the
Vessels, and let others go fighting across the plain."

In explanation, Achilles was saying that he wanted Patroclus to lead the
Myrmidons in an attack against the Trojans to drive them away from the ships.
Once that was done, he wanted Patroclus and the army to return because imminent
death surrounded Troy, antagonized by Zeus and Apollo. However, Patroclus did
not heed this warning. After going into battle and sending the Trojans into a
full retreat, Patroclus was overcome with fury over his slain comrade, Epeigeus,
and ordered a full scale attack upon the walls of Troy.

" Then Patroclus, calling
Commands to the horses and to Automedon, drove
In pursuit of the Trojans and Lycians, blind foolhardy
child
That he was! For had he obeyed the careful orders
of Peleus' son Achilles, he surely would then
Have escaped the miserable doom of murky death."

This passage in Book XVI foreshadowed how this grave mistake would lead to
Patroclus' death. Because of his overwhelming desire to take revenge for the
many Achaeans defeated in battle, Patroclus failed to realize the accompanying
consequences to his suicide mission. No one else made the decision to attack,
therefore, only Patroclus is to blame for his narrow minded decision which led
directly to his untimely demise.
Finally, because of Patroclus' inferiority to Achilles in battle, he was
responsible for his own death. An example can be derived from a passage in Book
XVI from Apollo to Patroclus,

" Fall back Zeus - descended Patroclus! It is not fated
That by your spear this town of the gifted Trojans
Shall be laid to waste, nor even by that of Achilles,
A man far batter than you."

This passage suggests the inferiority of Patroclus compared to Achilles. If
Achilles was not fated to sack the city of Troy, how was Patroclus supposed to,
being only half the warrior that Achilles was? Patroclus should have known this,
but his mind was clouded with anger and grief so he decided to do even what
Achilles could not and perished. Therefore, his inferiority to Achilles shown
through. Another example took place after Patroclus defeated Hector's driver,
Cebriones. While trying to strip the armor from the body, Patroclus and Hector
began to fight over the corpse. Instead of following Achilles' orders and
returning to the ships, Patroclus went for the nucleus of the Trojan army and
tried to defeat Hector, as no other Achaean could do. His fury overcame him and
inferiority to Achilles caused him to die. Patroclus picked a fight with an
enemy aided by a god, and fell from glory with a combination of blows from
Apollo, Euphorbes, and Hector. This inferiority to Achilles may have been the
primary reason that Patroclus' life came to an end that day at the hands of the
Trojan army.
In conclusion, among the various themes of The Iliad of Homer, death is
one of the most apparent and moving themes to consistently appear throughout the
story. Each death was described in full, graphic detail to more emphasize the
individual people and events for which this siege was taking place. Each man
had a family and a story behind his life and death. For Patroclus, however,
life was cut short by his poor decisions and unyielding fury toward the Trojans.
These, accompanied by his battle skills, greatly inferior to those of Achilles,
caused Patroclus to disregard Achilles' warnings of what fate the battle might
hold and attack Troy as well as Hector. If these decisions had not been made,
Patroclus could have ridden beside Achilles in their sack of Troy. Thus,
because of Patroclus' over - zealous and inferior battle decisions and behaviors,
it is apparent that he is solely responsible for his own death.